The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has welcomed the Government’s new changes to the Employment Rights Bill, which updated the unfair dismissal provisions.

As part of the new changes, the Government decreased the qualifying period for unfair dismissal from 24 months to 6 months.

This move is aimed at providing more protection and rights for employees and giving employers and businesses further clarity.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: “This is an important, practical step in creating an Employment Rights Bill that will protect employment opportunities as well as employees.

“We are pleased to see that Government has listened, and this is proof that meaningful engagement between businesses, trade unions and Government can lead to positive outcomes for everyone.

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A government statement said: The discussions concluded that reducing the qualifying period for unfair dismissal from 24 months to six months, whilst maintaining existing day one protection against discrimination and automatically unfair grounds for dismissal, is a workable package.”

The BRC is also calling on the Government to support further changes to the Employment Rights Bill, including the guaranteed hours proposal.

Dickinson added: “We now need similar engagement on other areas of the Bill which are of significant concern. For example, Guaranteed Hours, where current proposals would make it harder for retailers to offer local, flexible, and part-time jobs.

“The delay to the Bill’s Royal Assent must not result in a compressed implementation roadmap. The Government has asked businesses to engage with its consultations on the Bill and it is crucial that the implementation timeline allows for quality engagement with high-employment industries to ensure the Bill is fit for purpose, protecting employment opportunities as well as employees.”